Back pack assembly combined with a protective garment

ABSTRACT

A carrier assembly in the form of a “Back Pack” structure which includes a protective garment primarily designed to protect a wearer from rain, cold, etc. The protective garment is mounted within a hollow interior portion of the base of the back pack carrier and is attached there to such that there is a fixed, permanent attachment between the protective garment and the base of the back pack whether the garment is being worn by a person or stored within the back pack. One or more additional compartments are formed on the base for the purpose of carrying additional articles wherein proper access openings etc. are provided to allow entrance and access to anyone of the various compartments defining the hollow interior of the subject article carrier.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to an article carrier in form of a back pack type structure wherein a garment designed and structured to protect a wearer against the rain, wind, cold, etc. is attached to the base of the back pack structure so as to be stored therein or removed there from when worn by the person supporting the back pack structure.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Back pack type of carrier assemblies are well known in the prior art. Typically, such article carrier assemblies are supported generally on the back portion of the person supporting the carrier wherein a shoulder strap or some type of surrounding belt attachment is connected to the subject article carrier and further wherein either the shoulder straps or the surrounding belt are removably affixed to the torso portion of the person supporting the article carrier. While the general concept of such structures are well known in the art, certain desired modifications in such structures are desirable both from a convenience and efficiency stand point.

In addition to back pack type article carriers, the structure and concept of some type of protective garment, to be worn by a person, is also well known in the art. Typically, such garments may generally protect the wearer from precipitation, such as rain, cold, or the weather elements generally. Such garments may be tailored such as rain jackets or rain coats or may be more general in shape, configuration and structure such as a “poncho” type of garment. One problem generally associated with the use and wearing of such protective type garments is there ability to be stored and yet readily available when need for such garments arises. compartment is located substantially adjacent what may be considered a front face of the exterior of the base. Conversely, the second compartment is located substantially adjacent to a rear face of the exterior of the base. The first access means including an elongated access opening is formed on the front face and provides access to the first compartment. A closure structure such as but not limited to a zipper or a hook and loop type fastener may define a part of the first access means. A second access means is elongated and extends along a peripheral portion of the base which substantially separates the front face from the rear face. The second access opening means is also defined by an access opening and may also have a closure structure of somewhat conventional design such as a zipper, hook and loop type fastener, etc.

A support means preferably in the form of two spaced apart and independently structured shoulder straps are connected to the base and extend outwardly from an exterior thereof These shoulder straps are dimensioned and disposed so as to at least partially surround and somewhat embrace the shoulders of a wearer of the article carrier such that the major portion of the article carrier in its back pack type of configuration may rest upon, be supported by and confront the upper back of the wearer.

Other structural features of the present invention include a combined protective garment. This protective garment may generally be in the form of a poncho type structure and may include a hood, sleeve structures, a torso surrounding portion and certain other structural components which allow for the covering and protection of the wearer. An attachment means is disposed in permanently fixed attachment to both the hollow interior of the base portion of the article carrier and the garment itself This attachment means preferably is in the form of an elongated band or strap having an innermost end fixedly secured to the partition, at some point thereon. The length of the elongated attachment strap may be stored within or extend outwardly from the first compartment, as setforth above. The outer end of the elongated attachment strap is fixedly attached to the protective garment such that the protective garment will, at all times, be secured to some portion of the base.

It should be apparent that the flexible garment is made of a flexible material which may be folded or rolled upon itself to the extent that it may be oriented in a compact shape or form. When in such compact shape it may pass through the first access means and or the access opening thereof and be stored within the first compartment or removed therefrom when it is desired to be worn by the wearer. Whether the protective garment is being worn or being stored it is at all times attached to the partition of the base of the back pack carrier assembly so as to facilitate its storage and eliminate the possibility of it being lost or removed from the carrier assembly. The second compartment is dimensioned and structured to hold a variety of different articles such as but not limited to books, food carriers, etc.

Yet another feature of the present invention is the provision of a purse mounted on the exterior of the base of the subject carrier assembly and more specifically on the exterior of and facing outwardly from the rear face, as set forth above. A subject access and cover assembly to the purse may be provided such that the purse may be closed so as to prevent unauthorized or inadvertent access to the interior thereof The purse is generally smaller in dimension and overall configuration than the first or second compartment and is primarily designed to hold smaller articles such as money, personal belongings, etc.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The following is a detailed description of the present invention taken in light of the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of different types of protective garments which may be included in the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a rear view of the embodiments of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view of a protective garment and attached carrier assembly associated therewith.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 3 .

FIG. 5 is a view of the rear face of the subject carrier assembly when it is not mounted on a person.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the front face of the base portion of the carrier assembly opposite that of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a side view along line 7-7 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view along line 8-8 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 9 is a side view of the subject carrier assembly mounted on a person who is also wearing a protective garment.

FIG. 10 is a rear view similar to that of FIG. 3 with a variation of an attachment structure attached thereto.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 10.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

As shown in the accompanying figures, the present invention is directed towards a carrier assembly generally indicated as 10 which is primarily designed to be in the form of a back pack type of structure. The carrier assembly 10 includes a base 12 which, as best shown in FIG. 8 includes a hollow interior defined by a first compartment 14 and a second compartment 16. The first compartment is located somewhat adjacent to a front face 18 of the base 12. Conversely, the second compartment 16 is located adjacent to the rear face 20 of the base 12.

A protective garment generally indicated as 22 or 22′. Either one of the protective garments, 22 or 22′ may be used in combination with the article carrier 10 and is specifically formed from a flexible material which may be folded upon itself as best shown in FIG. 8. The protective garment 22 is stored within the first compartment 14 within its rolled or folded position.

An important feature of the present invention is the existence of an attachment means generally indicated as 24. The attachment means 24 includes an elongated strip 26 which has its innermost end as at 28 secured to a partition 30 which separates the hollow interior of the base 12 into the first compartment 14 and the second compartment 16. The inner end 28 being fixedly attached to the partition 30 may therefore also be stored within the first compartment 14. The outer end of the attachment strap 26 and or the attachment means 24 is fixedly connected as at 32 to the base 12 of the carrier assembly 10. By virtue of this inner connection the protective garment 22 or 22′ is fixedly and permanently attached to the interior of the base 12 of the article carrier 10 and more specifically to the interior of the first compartment 14. Detachment or misplacement of either one of the protective garments 22 or 22° is therefore eliminated or effectively reduced.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 the article carrier 10 may be detached completely from a supported position on a person or wearer of the protected garment 22 or 22′ and in such configuration may merely hang loosely behind the person wearing the protective garment 22 or 22′.

Supporting means in the form of shoulder straps 36 and 38 are used to removably support the article carrier 10 and more specifically the base thereof 12 on the back of the wearer as best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. As setforth above, such straps 36 and 38 may define the entire attachment means as setforth above or may be used in combination with other type torso surrounding belts. Some type of tight device as at 40 may be used to adjust the length of the shoulder straps and or adapt to the attachment for another type of torso surrounding belt.

Other features of the present invention include an elongated first access means 44 defined by an access opening as at 46 through which both the protective garment 22 or 22′ as well as the attachment strap 26 may pass. Some type of closure structure such as a zipper, hook and loop type fastener, etc. could be used to open and close the elongated access opening 46. Similarly, with reference to FIG. 8 an elongated second access opening as at 48 is sure to define the access means to provide access to the interior of the second compartment 16. Any type of closure such as a zipper or hook and loop type fastener may be used to open and close such elongated second access opening as at 50. The elongated second access means 48 may extend along a somewhat peripheral portion generally indicated as 54 it serves to separate the front face 18 from the rear face 20 of the base 12 of the subject carrier assembly.

Other features of the present invention is the existence of a separate purse as at 60 having a hollow interior and having some type of closure flap or the like 62 for the selective opening and closing of the purse 60 so as to provide selected access thereto. Any type of closure such as a zipper, hook and loop type fastener, etc. may be used to close the closure flap 62 of the purse 60.

The purse 60 is generally of a smaller configuration and dimension with a hollow interior and is primarily designed to house money or other smaller common personal items wherein such housing would be more convenient rather than place such smaller articles within the larger dimensions of the interior of the first or second compartment 14 and 16 respectively.

A second embodiment of the present invention as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 wherein the attachment strap 26′ is of a much thinner transverse dimension than the attachment strap 26 evidenced in the embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4.

Now that the invention has been described: 

1. An article carrier assembly designed to be removably supported on a person, said assembly comprising: a. a base and including an at least partially hollow interior and support means attached to said base and structurally adapted for removable support of said base on a person, b. a partition formed within said base and separating said hollow interior into at least a first compartment and a second compartment, c. a first access means formed on said base and structured for providing access to said first compartment, d. a second access means formed on said base and structured for providing access to said second compartment, e. protective garment connected to said base and adapted for alternate storage within said first compartment and placement on the person exteriorly of said first compartment, and f. attachment means attached to both said base and said garment and adapted for interconnecting said base and said garment both within said base and exteriorly thereof
 2. An assembly is in claim 1, wherein said base comprises a front face and a rear face disposed in an opposed relation to one another, said first compartment disposed substantially adjacent said front face and said second compartment disposed substantially adjacent said rear face
 3. An assembly is in claim 2, wherein first access means includes a first access opening formed on said front face and being of sufficient dimension to allow passage there through of said garment and a portion of said attachment means.
 4. An assembly is in claim 3, wherein said front face is disposed in facing, at least partially confronting relation to a body portion of the person supporting said base, said rear face directed outwardly in a substantially outward, opposite direction from said front face and the person.
 5. An assembly is claim 4, wherein said first access opening is disposed in facing relation to the person supporting said base and including a closure assembly adapted to close said first access opening when said garment is stored within said first compartment.
 6. An assembly is in claim 2, wherein its second compartment is disposed between said partition and said rear face and in spaced relation to said front face.
 7. An assembly is in claim 6, wherein said second access means comprises a second access opening having a elongated configuration and extending along a peripheral portion of said base between said front face and said rear face.
 8. An assembly is in claim 1, wherein said attachment means comprises an elongated configuration having an inner end secured within said first compartment and an outer end attached to said garment.
 9. An assembly is in claim 8, wherein said attachment means has a sufficient length to extend through said first access means from said first compartment to said garment when said garment is worn by the person supporting said base.
 10. An assembly is in claim 1, wherein said garment comprises rain wear adapted to protect the person against precipitation and includes a hood portion, a torso covering portion and sleeve structures.
 11. An assembly is in claim 1, wherein said support means comprises shoulder straps adapted to embrace the shoulders of the person supporting said base and support said base in confronting relation to the back of the person.
 12. An assembly is in claim 1, wherein said an attachment means defines a supporting connection between said garment mounted on the person and said base when the support means is detached from the person.
 13. An assembly as in claim 12 wherein said attachment means has a sufficient length to extend through said first access means from said first compartment to said garment when said garment is worn by the person supporting said base.
 14. An assembly as in claim 2 further comprising a purse assembly mounted on said rear face and exteriorly of said hollow interior and segregated from said second compartment. 